title: A study on the relationship between intraglandular arterial distribution and thyroid lobe shape: implications for biotechnology of a bioartificial thyroid.
abstract: We have recently hypothesized that structural and secretory components of the adult human thyroid gland maintain constant reciprocal and geometrical relationships, even if changes occur in the three-dimensional (3D) architecture of any of these elements. This means that thyroid morphology could be studied from the point of view of a 3D topology. As a consequence, we have investigated anatomical aspects that could support this assumption. In the present study, we show that the presence of a constant relationship can be demonstrated between the vascular arrangement of the gland, including the extension of intraglandular arterial fields, arterial anastomoses and arterial calibers, and the shape as well as volume of the thyroid. Specifically, a statistically significant difference has been found between the network amplitudes of the superior and inferior thyroid arteries in relation to either a conic or an ellipsoidal geometry of the thyroid lobe. In addition, a direct relationship has been implicated between the distribution of arterial anastomoses and the behavior of the lobe as a single hemodynamic unit. Finally, a statistically significant correlation has been observed between average arterial caliber of the inferior thyroid artery and thyroid volume. On the basis of these results, we propose a model of architectural assembly between stromal and parenchymal elements of the adult thyroid that might prove useful in designing a bioartificial gland ex situ. Potential clinical applications of this principle in regenerative medicine of other endocrine organs are highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, Center for Morphology, Biometry and Phenotype Structure, University of Parma, Italy. roberto.toni@unibo.it
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Toni
authors.forename: Claudia Della
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Casa
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bodria
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spaletta
authors.forename: Rocco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vella
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castorina
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gatto
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Teti
authors.forename: Mirella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falconi
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rago
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vitti
authors.forename: Fiorella
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sgallari
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D021522:Bioartificial Organs; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001709:Biotechnology; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials